Tribal citizens are cordially invited to attend an Honorary Partnership Ceremony on Saturday, March 30 at 11:00 a.m. at 184 Meeting House Road in Mashpee. Following the ceremony refreshments will be served at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center at 483 Great Neck Road South in Mashpee. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Housing Commission and Housing Department are hosting the event.

Kindly RSVP by March 22 to the Housing Department at (508) 477-0208 Ext. 104.

The 2019 Annual Election Nomination Papers for the following positions will be available beginning February 4, 2019.

• HOUSING AUTHORITY Vote for One for 5 Years

• LIBRARY TRUSTEE Vote for Two for 3 Years

• MODERATOR Vote for One for 3 Years

• PLANNING BOARD Vote for Two for 3 Years

• SCHOOL COMMITTEE Vote for One for 3 Years

• SELECTMEN Vote for One for 3 Years

• WATER COMMISSIONER Vote for One for 3 Years

A memorandum of understanding will continue another year between the Town of Mashpee and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe to supply public safety on tribal lands.

Mashpee selectmen signed the fourth year-long agreement February 11, the first time the compromise was reached without any public contention.

The year-long memorandum essentially lays the groundwork for the town to supply some emergency services on tribal sovereign ground.

On Sunday, February 10 tribal members cast 472 ballots electing six tribal council members to serve four-year terms. Carlton Hendricks Jr., Winnie Johnson-Graham and Yvonne Avant were reelected and Brian Weeden, Rita Pocknett-Gonsalves and Aaron Tobey, Jr. were elected to serve on Tribal Council.

The professional Transportation Driver operates tribal vehicles transporting tribal members to and from scheduled medical appointments or other activities, such as tribal meetings. Driver performs the responsible safe operations of a handicap accessible, Ford Econ-line 450, 13 passenger van. The professional Transportation Driver conducts this service in compliance with all applicable MWT/MA DOT regulations, and avoiding damage to equipment or passengers, with respect for his/her own personal safety and the safety of others on the road. He/she ensures (tribal citizens) customer service commitments and Tribal administration service targets are achieved, and protects the integrity and security of the passengers at all times.

Join WLRP at the MWT Community & Govt. Center for Wôp language games, stories, songs and prayer (4:30-5:30) followed by a potluck dinner (5:30-6:30). All of this is happening at the next Language Community Night on Friday, March 29.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Education Department is pleased to offer a 4-day April camp for kids between the grades of 1 and 6. The fun-filled camp will coincide with the public school break and will be held April 15 to April 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

Wampanoag New Year Celebration - Saturday, May 4, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Old Indian Meeting House. Following the celebration, a Potluck luncheon will be held at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center.

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is offering an amazing opportunity for Native Americans that between the ages of 18 and 24 and are enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe. The NIHB Health Policy Fellows are a diverse group of talented native youth who are dedicated to making a difference in their communities.

Thanks to a lot of coordination from the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Education Department, tribal students between the grades 1 and 6 enjoyed a week of fun activities at the Pup8n “Winter” Vacation Camp.  During the 4-day camp students were able to swim at the Cape Cod Water Park, visit the Cape Cod Natural History Museum (and even sat respectfully through a somewhat boring presentation on horseshoe crab) before taking part in a fun scavenger hunt for horseshoe crabs along with many other activities. We’re looking forward to the next camp during April vacation.

Please join the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Education Department and Mashpee Indian Museum for family fun, activities, singing, dancing, fishing, and more at the annual Honoring Our Herring event. Honoring Our Herring will be held at the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Museum on Wednesday, April 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

If you have a student in Barnstable, Falmouth, Sandwich, Wareham or the New Bedford school system, please make sure you have completed a 506 Title VII Indian Education Student Eligibility Certification Form. It’s important that each school has an accurate count of Native students enrolled to obtain proper funding. You may obtain a copy of the form at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Indian Education Department.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Elders hosted a “Helping Hands” Ham and Bean Dinner on Friday, February 15 at the Community and Government Center. Community members were able to donate gently used coats and blankets during the dinner. The donations were then distributed to local families. In addition, any families that were in need were able to enjoy the Ham and Bean Dinner at no cost. The Tribal Elders have and continue to support tribal families in many ways.

The Powwow Committee have posted vendor applications on the Tribe’s website. Applications for craft vendors, food vendors, and nonprofits may be downloaded online at www.mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov/powwow. The Powwow Committee is also accepting applications for employment. For more details, please contact the Powwow Committee Tribal Council Liaison Brian Weeden at brian.weeden@mwtribe-nsn.gov or at (508) 477-0208 Ext. 119.

Looking to get ready for Powwow? Traditional dance classes are being held Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Community and Government Center. The classes will continue through the end of June.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Youth Council will celebrate its 10th anniversary at the Annual Youth Ball on Saturday, March 23 from 6-11 PM at the Community and Government Center. Tickets for the event are $15 if purchased ahead of time or $20 at the door. To purchase tickets ahead, please call Youth Council Secretary Troy Stewart at (774) 770-9067 or Secretary Daycia Frye at (774) 487-8817.

Congratulations to Alexyss Galvin, daughter of Nerissa Andrews and granddaughter of Nelson and Wanda Andrews, for making the deans list at Plymouth State University for the Fall 2018 semester. To be named to the Dean's List, a student must achieve a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.69 during the Fall 2018 semester and must have attempted at least 12 credit hours during the semester.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Education Department Career Pathways for Tribal Youth will wrap up its series of college tours over April vacation for high school juniors and seniors and a parent or guardian. The College tours include transportation to and from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center, hotel stay and a per diem provided for the student and 1 parent/legal guardian.

As part of the recently funded project by SAMHSA’s Tribal Opioid Response Grant (360 Project) the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s Health and Human Services Department is conducting a Community Wellness Needs Assessment to determine further HHS programming. Our main objective is to initiate culturally driven wellness programs, services and activities while improving education and access to Medicated Assisted Treatment services combined with direct Peer Recovery support.